Germany Sent Us Their Best!

Just for the school year 2009-2010, though.  Miss Lena Burbach, our exchange student from Germany, made her way to West Texas for climate and culture shock!  It was August; the kids were running cross country in desert heat, and they had been in training for several weeks when Lena got here.  She opted out of cross country, but dived into basket ball and track.  She is an amazing student--speaks and reads, and understands English at an amazing level .  I had the pleasure of having Lena in Apparel, and also Nutrition and Food Science.  During the spring semester she a a couple of other girls tackled a design project for Texas Technology Student Association, something none of us had ever done.  The theme was business attire, and here she is in the pants and blouse.  We took a blouse, and suit pattern that fit Lena, cut them to pieces in order to move darts, change the shape of darts.  This was a button up the front blouse.

Then we made a yoke, moved all the front darts  into tucks attached to the yoke.  One of the girls sewed the

fluffy, gathered strips of bias cut chiffon on the yoke.

We made the plain cap sleeves into short puffed sleeves, and made it open in the back with a tie at the waist line.

Then we made a flared peplum for the back, and changed the princess darts into a semi-circle on the front.

You can barely see the semi-circular dart, but it ties in to the peplum.  We were disqualified at the gate, because the girls weren't wearing the TTSA uniform--my fault totally.   I don't know about you but when it's my first time out of the chute, I really don't know what to expect.  But the process was great, and getting to work with a smart girl like Lena was priceless.  Lena is on her way back to Germany as I write this.  God bless you! 

Cowboy! I Found the Pictures!

Cowboy as a kid, about 17 probably, and here he is a young soldier boy in the mid-60s.  

Happy Birthday, Cowboy!

Happy birthday Cowboy (on the left and Vern Pluhar on the right, summer '09).  There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about you, and breathe a prayer for you.  You were my best friend while we were growing up, and I guess we sort of kept each other alive during those years.  After all, we did have some close calls. I just wish we weren't so far apart, but until the distance gets closer, just know that I love you, and care for you just as much as ever.  Have a good day, and a utterly fantastic, and exciting year.  See you when I get there.  Your sister.  Rosie 

P.S.  I couldn't find the picture I really wanted to put on here.  Things are chaos.  I am moving next door.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Here is the birthday girl!  Always doing, always in the middle of the action having fun, helping, giving her time and energy to make others feel welcomed and loved.  Happy birthday.  May the Lord bless you with great health and many more birthdays.  Just in case you don't know--Sweetheart is the one in the red.  Farmer's Wife is in pink and her sister, Jen, is in black.  The picture was taken spring break '09.

OOPS! Now I Have Done It!

I have committed myself to an impossible task, just in hopes that I will get some of it done.  I found this cute blog on Sew Retro.  The English girl (http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/2010/05/join-me-self-stitched-september.html)  is forming a group of seamstresses who will get serious, and really try to make what they wear.  My theory is--if my name is on the dotted line, I am at least semi-committed and might even get something done!  So, I have taken the following vow (not in blood, mind you).

I, Rosie O'Grady,  sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-September. I endeavour to wear as many handmade (at least one piece of clothing, preferably a whole outfit) every day for the duration of September 2010'.  If I can just finish what I have started, the challenge will probably have been accomplished.  First, I will attack my Koos Van Den Akker skirt, even though I don't like the fabric I bought (choices are limited in Midland).  I am going to do it!!!!

And now I just have to tell you about the fashion world that  Mark Twain described  when he went ashore to visit Constantinople.  "Ashore it was--well, it was an eternal circus.  People were thicker than bees in those narrow streets, and the men were dressed in all the outrageous, outlandish, idolatrous, extravagant, thunder-and-lightning costumes that ever a tailor with the delirium tremens and seven devils could conceive of.  There was no freak in dress too crazy to be indulged in, no diabolism too fantastic to be attempted.  No two men were dressed alike.  It was a wild masquerade of all imaginable costumes--every struggling throng in every street was a dissolving view of stunning contrasts.Some patriarchs wore awful  turbans, but the grand mass of the infidel horde wore the fiery red skullcap they call a fez.  All the remainder of the raiment they indulged in was utterly indescribable."  The Innocents Abroad 

I just hope that we can produce clothing that is just half as exciting as this!

The Cactus is Nearly Done Blooming, and School is ...

OUT..!  The seniors graduated from high school Friday night , and are now part of the real world!  Welcome!  I hope they find love, adventure, success and security in our Lord. 

I monogrammed towels for seniors that I had in class.  I don't have a monogram machine like Marina, but just do it the old fashioned way.  It's my tradition.  In fact, a couple of them asked me if I was going to give them something, "Like last year.  You gave them towels," (they have no raising).

I have so many projects going that I can't calm down and get a good night's sleep.  Thank God for air conditioning.  It was 111 degrees yesterday.